Frolicking while the giant sleeps

With Greg Slaughter in sick bay, Ginebra’s fleet-footed Gin Kings have enjoyed great chemistry. Now two former coaches say that the Kings will become even more lethal with the 7-footer’s return. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Twenty seasons. That’s how long it has been since the Barangay Ginebra franchise last topped an elimination round of a PBA conference.

Gordon’s Gin, as the team was known then, had an explosive import in Chris King and a gentle giant in Marlou Aquino when the squad went on to win the 1997 Commissioner’s Cup under legendary playing-coach Sonny Jaworski.

In this Commissioner’s Cup, under an equally legendary coach in Tim Cone and a similarly prolific import in Justin Brownlee, the Gin Kings have ruled the elimination round and are looking ripe for yet another championship.

The difference this time is that this batch of Gin Kings pulled it off when their version of a gentle giant was asleep.

So with the impending return of the 7-foot Greg Slaughter later in the playoffs, how will he be of help to a team that is playing with such great speed and chemistry and has found ways to win using one of the smallest front lines out there?

Or, are the Kings better off without him?

“That’s a good question,” Grand Slam champion coach Tommy Manotoc says, admitting that it will be quite a situation for Cone to handle. “Tim would know how to use him (Slaughter). It will make them deeper because they now have a legitimate inside threat.”

Manotoc, who posted a Triple Crown sweep in 1983 with a Crispa Redmanizers crew many consider as the best team of all time, says that if he’s the one coaching Ginebra now he would welcome Slaughter back to the team.

“Greg will be a good reserve (in the playoffs) and a good post presence,” Manotoc says. “Tim doesn’t have that at this time. Greg can match up with the bigger guys, even with the slower imports.”

Ginebra has made do with Dave Marcelo as its only pure center in the roster, with Japeth Aguilar, a natural big forward, and Joe Devance both putting in some time in the spot—and doing a tremendous job while Slaughter is in sick bay with a knee injury.

“I would rather have a 7-footer in the lineup than not have one at all,” says Vergel Meneses, a PBA all-time great and former Ginebra player. “Coach Tim will know what to do.”

Sister team San Miguel Beer has been labeled as the team to beat in this conference mainly because of the presence—and the sustained dominance—of reigning three-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.

Plus, the Beermen landed a prized import in Charles Rhodes, who packs a mean inside-outside game that has made San Miguel even more formidable.

This is where the coach in Manotoc comes to fore, thinking match-ups way before they happen and figuring how useful a lumbering Slaughter could be to a Ginebra squad that, as the pundits say, can unleash its run-and-gun game more efficiently without him.

Since Ginebra and San Miguel will only collide if they reach the best-of-seven title series, Manotoc points out that Slaughter, if he comes in earlier than the Finals, will not only help the Kings in the Final Four, but also preserve Brownlee for the long haul.

“I think Tim will be breaking him (Slaughter) in slowly for the Finals,” Manotoc says. “And if he can do that, he takes a lot of pressure off Brownlee in doing the chores underneath. The best thing about Slaughter’s return is that Tim can have someone who can match up with Fajardo.”

Meneses agrees: “It will be a good match-up if ever they meet in the championship.”

Manotoc believes that the absence of Slaughter has helped Ginebra a great deal in another aspect. Japeth Aguilar, he says, is finally showing great improvement playing in the shaded lane.

“Japeth’s playing so well and I don’t think that his playing time will be affected (when Slaughter comes back) because he can easily slide to his old spot,” Manotoc says. “That will be a very strong team once all the pieces fall into place.”

Cone has said there’s a 20- to 80-percent chance that Slaughter will make his return in the playoffs. Although he didn’t really say how he will use his franchise player, he telegraphed his anticipation by breaking the news with a wide smile.

San Miguel vs Ginebra or Ginebra vs San Miguel for the Commissioner’s Cup championship series will certainly be a box-office smash. And because of the quality of the player slated to make his return, there’s no doubt that the resurgent Gin Kings will be a lot better with the big man around.